By Michael McMullan

IT has been an exciting few days in Mullahoran after Sunday’s win over Carrickmacross annexed the Ulster intermediate title.

It’s a campaign that yielded 20 goals in four games. At the other end of the pitch, teenager Fainche Higgins is their goalkeeper, one of five u-16s in the side.

Her younger sister Etain also chipped in with a point when coming in off the bench.

Since reaching a county senior final, losing players – including shooting star Aishling Sheridan – saw them fall back to intermediate but they’ve made their mark this year to move back up.

For Fainche Higgins, she has experienced success with both club and county. Winning last weekend was sweeter. It was with those she grew up with.

“We have a great team,” she told Gaelic Life. “A mix of all the girls my age, my friends and then all the older girls like Mona and Geraldine and Ashling (the Sheridans) who used to coach us.”

Kingscourt asked them tough questions in the Cavan semi-final. They needed a Kate Fegan goal in a 1-6 to 0-6 Ulster win away to Dungloe. The rest of the season, they were comfortable winners – including Sunday.

“There was a homecoming for us in the village in Kilcogy,” Higgins recalled of Sunday night. “We had a lorry there and then we walked up the street. The whole parish was there and it makes all the training worth it.”

She can recall the early days of trekking to underage blitzes all over Cavan with Ciara Denneny, Geraldine and Mona Sheridan looking after them at u-12 level. Her father Seamus lent a hand up through the ages.

“We started training with the seniors when we got to u-16 level, so that’s where it all started,” Higgins said.

The u-16s bounced back in the championship after losing a league final to Knockbride this season. The sides were level in the championship decider before Mullahoran came through in the replay.

“Growing up, with the u-12s we were dominant enough in blitzes,” Higgins said. “We were fairly successful at underage and then with county as well.”

When Cavan saw off Cork to land last year’s All-Ireland u-16 title, after a replay, Higgins was in fine form between the posts on the way to the player of the match award.

With no regular ‘keeper at the time, Higgins and her background between the posts for Longford Town led to her donning the number one jersey.

“They kind of threw me in there and I’ve been there since,” said Higgins.

“I do enjoy it but get to play full-forward with the u-16 and minor teams. I only play in goals for seniors so it’s good that I get to go outfield.”

With chats of a contract offer with Longford and not wanting to pack in county Gaelic football, soccer was parked. Rugby has been added as a hobby to tip away at over the winter but GAA is the focus.

At county level, Cavan lost to Galway by a point in the All-Ireland u-14 final this year. Higgins was again starring between the posts as the u-16s beat Mayo in the final with the minors beating Kerry to land their All-Ireland title.

It’s a busy schedule with county, club, school and exams but Higgins points to communication and the understanding of senior manager Sean Smith, who has also steered the club’s men to intermediate glory. There is a balance and the players’ needs come first.

Her father and Jim Reilly are involved with the u-16s and form part of Smith’s senior management.

“There was no point doing two training sessions so we all came together, that’s how it works,” Higgins said.

“In Mullahoran, we’re all close. There’s the older girls then there are the 15, 16 and 17 year-olds.

“We all get on really well. We’d be going to football games and to county training so we’d always be together.”

When faced by a blustery day in Donegal when they had to almost play against the wind in both halves such was the unpredictable elements, Dungloe squeezed them hard.

They prevailed and kept their foot on the pedal to see off both St Gall’s and Carrickmacross. Higgins put their Ulster success down to graft and commitment. But there needs to be fun mixed in too.

“That’s what we’re good at. We like to celebrate and we like to have the craic after and before training,” she added. “I think that’s what it’s all about, having a bit of fun along the way too.”

Next up is the visit of Carlow champions Bennekerry/Tinryland in the All-Ireland semi-final at the end of the month.

That’s for another day. There’s another cup to be contested and Mullahoran will hope their mix of youth and experience has another chapter to write.